Grant will target illegal passing of school buses
Anonymous Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Jul 31, 2011, 06:28 PM EDT
— Schools will open for a new year in just a few weeks, and when they do police throughout Maryland will be on the lookout for vehicles illegally passing school buses.
It’s no small problem. During a one-day survey in February, bus drivers throughout Maryland reported 7,028 violations, 4,000 of which were by oncoming drivers who ignored the stop arms of buses. Another 2,665 vehicles traveling in the same direction as the buses passed on the left and 366 actually passed illegally on the right.
In Garrett County, numerous drivers were cited for illegally passing buses during the last school year, according to Sheriff Rob Corley.
Allegany County school transportation director Jay Walbert said his school system averages three “run-throughs,” or illegal bus passes, a week. “They can happen anywhere, but two spots with frequent run-throughs are the three-lane on McMullen Highway (south of Middle Ridge) and not far from the (Maryland State Police) barrack on National Highway,” he said.
To step up enforcement of state laws dealing with illegal passing, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention is doling out $548,411 in grants to law enforcement officers throughout the state. The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and the Cumberland Police Department are receiving $10,000 each. Another $20,000 is going to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.
The safety of school children is vital and these grants should help dramatically increase school bus safety awareness. Don’t be surprised to see a frequent police presence during school bus trips on school mornings and afternoons.
Allegany and Garrett county public schools will reopen Aug. 24.
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